MODS FOR A CHEAP HATCHET???

[T.M.A.]

So I've got this cheap hatchet from Farm and Fleet. Pretty big and clunky and not the best thing ever. Prolly fifteen inches long. Had it forever...

Saw this video on youtube and the guy was talking about axe handles in particular -How they were much slimmer back in the day and the woodsman of yore used to shave their handles down considerably. Nice, thin axe handles...

How far can you take an axe handle down?

Anybody experimented with this?

Good grinds for a hatchet?

Planning on convexing the edge...

Let me know Bladeheads!

Take care!


-T

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

A simple rule of thumb is just take it down to as slim as you find to still be comfortable to hold. As far as a grind? 10-15° per side blended back into the cheeks as a convex.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Got a picture of it ?

We need to see what the handle looks like now , it could be a size that you cannot get a proper vintage profile out of.
Say if it's wide and flat or doesn't flare out enough on the end to get a proper fawns foot like a lot of modern handles do.

Heres a good example of what can be done
This is a little Vaughan sub zero super sportsman as they come from the factory.

And this is what I do to them.

 

[T.M.A.]

Got a picture of it ?

We need to see what the handle looks like now , it could be a size that you cannot get a proper vintage profile out of.
Say if it's wide and flat or doesn't flare out enough on the end to get a proper fawns foot like a lot of modern handles do.

Heres a good example of what can be done
This is a little Vaughan sub zero super sportsman as they come from the factory.

And this is what I do to them.

SAWEEET!!!

For some reason I'm having trouble uploading the image. Keeps on asking me to "insert link" and for some reason can't access my photo folder or downloads.

I did, however, find a tiny pic of it on duck-duck go!

This is the exact hatchet. Sorry so small. Only one I found...

Like FortyTwoBlades mentioned, it's pretty much as slim as is comfortable already. Don't know how much I could take off now that I look at my actual hatchet...

Where did you get those hatchets featured??

On my actual hatchet, I coiled a bunch of rubber bands around the bottom and also wrapped a thread of twine around the handle, then I wrapped it in hockey tape. For some reason the nature of this thing was just to fly out of the hand!

 

[T.M.A.]

A simple rule of thumb is just take it down to as slim as you find to still be comfortable to hold. As far as a grind? 10-15° per side blended back into the cheeks as a convex.

This might be a silly question -But do you use a tool to measure the degree of your grinds, or do you just eyeball it?

Just curious...


-T

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

This might be a silly question -But do you use a tool to measure the degree of your grinds, or do you just eyeball it?

Just curious...


-T

I eyeball it, but I'm also very experienced with the work, so I'm pretty accurate at keeping it in the target range. When developing your muscle memory you may want to use an angle gauge of some kind to help you visualize the angle you're shooting for.

 

[T.M.A.]

I eyeball it, but I'm also very experienced with the work, so I'm pretty accurate at keeping it in the target range. When developing your muscle memory you may want to use an angle gauge of some kind to help you visualize the angle you're shooting for.

Recommendation for "angle gauge"?

All I can think of is a protractor... Haha!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

iGaging makes a nice digital protractor stainless steel measure that works wonderfully, but also Richard Kell has a brass gauge that's pretty popular.

 

[Hickory n steel]

It's not the most curvy handle but appears to have enough material that you can get a proper shape out of it.

 

[T.M.A.]

It's not the most curvy handle but appears to have enough material that you can get a proper shape out of it.

I downloaded the image and edited it in a paint program so I can show you what I'm thinking for carving the handle.

Any tips how how to upload the photo here???

Can't seem to get it to work...


-T

 

[T.M.A.]

Got a picture of it ?

We need to see what the handle looks like now , it could be a size that you cannot get a proper vintage profile out of.
Say if it's wide and flat or doesn't flare out enough on the end to get a proper fawns foot like a lot of modern handles do.

Heres a good example of what can be done
This is a little Vaughan sub zero super sportsman as they come from the factory.

And this is what I do to them.

BTW -What is that little fixed blade you got there??


-T

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Upload to another website (even Facebook works) and copy the image URL here in IMG tags.

 

[T.M.A.]

 

[T.M.A.]

Upload to another website (even Facebook works) and copy the image URL here in IMG tags.

 

[T.M.A.]

Gotta try something else...

I'm computer illiterate...

Hold on!

 

[T.M.A.]

Upload to another website (even Facebook works) and copy the image URL here in IMG tags.

I did it!

Here's what I'm thinking.

At the very least the big one on the left, but I think the other two little cuts on the right couldn't hurt either:

 

[T.M.A.]

It's not the most curvy handle but appears to have enough material that you can get a proper shape out of it.

I did it!

Here's what I'm thinking.

At the very least the big one on the left, but I think the other two little cuts on the right couldn't hurt either:

 

[Hickory n steel]

I did it!

Here's what I'm thinking.

At the very least the big one on the left, but I think the other two little cuts on the right couldn't hurt either:

I would not dip in so much at the end on the front or backside, and that long stretch of wood you plan to take off on the front you should take off from the back.
I'd go in a little at the end front and back but not so much.
Let me do a quick sketch of what I'm talking about.

 

[Hickory n steel]

BTW -What is that little fixed blade you got there??


-T

That's a 1920's queen cutlery #85 bird and trout knife.

 

[T.M.A.]

That's a 1920's queen cutlery #85 bird and trout knife.

Awesome knife!